NEWS HEADLINES

A familiar face returns to the Bridgeport City Council – at least until the next election.

After accepting the resignation of Kevin Lopez, the council, in a special called meeting Thursday, appointed Jimmy Meyers as his replacement.

Meyers, a Bridgeport native, has served on the council in the past. Because of that experience, Councilman Bobby Brazier made the motion to appoint Meyers to the vacancy.

“He was on the council before for a long time. He kind of knows the ins and outs,” Brazier said.

Kathy Kennedy seconded the motion, but it was gridlocked when Councilmen Scott Cheves and Billy Fred Walker cast dissenting votes.

Earlier in the meeting, the council had discussed four citizens who had expressed interest in serving on the council, including Meyers, Ilene Enochs (who previously held Place 3 for a decade before opting not to run again this past election), A.Z. Smith and Dave Correll.

Councilman Cheves had moved to appoint Ilene Enochs to the spot, but it failed due to a lack of a second. After the failed motion by Cheves and the gridlocked motion by Brazier, Mayor Keith McComis cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of Meyers.

“With it being the middle of the budget season, I don’t want us to lose manpower,” McComis said. “He will help us get through this time. He’s done it before.”

Meyers will be sworn in at the council’s next meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The Place 3 spot will be up for election next May to fill the remainder of Lopez’s term – one year. He cited family reasons for his leaving, which was effective July 24.

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